The Other Fruit

One of the fruits of the Spirit is gentleness (Galatians 5:22). That's not one that I hear preached about often. In fact, I can't think of a single time when I've been encouraged to be gentle in my spirit. I've heard all about being patient, loving, and kind, but gentleness seems to be overlooked.

Why is that? Does it sound too fluffy? Too girly, even for most girls? In the church, we've come to love and admire the strong Jesus who stood up to the establishment and drove the money changers out. That's what I'm talking about! We've come so far to get away from the image of Jesus holding the little lamb. Being Christian doesn't mean being a push-over, or so we'd like to think.

But God put gentleness in the fruits of the Spirit for a reason. We need it! In a world so full of harsh realities, we need to practice gentleness. I'm pretty sure that doesn't mean sounding artificial or patronizing. If it comes from God, it will sound comforting and caring. Being gentle will actually get people's attention nowadays. There's a calmness to it that most people really want. If you can be gentle, you can be patient. If you can be patient, you can be kind. If you can be kind, you can be peaceful and loving - all qualities that mesh into a goodness that is the very heart of God. All qualities that God wants us to have.

Think gentle. Practice gentle. See how it changes you and how it effects those around you. I just bet you'll have a great experience.